Our centres offer exceptional learning environments with indoor gyms, climbers and outdoor playgrounds that keep kids active year-round! From 12 months to school age, children explore hands-on learning, develop foundational skills, and build confidence in active spaces created just for them.
Inquiry-based learning in discovery zones, fitness areas, and indoor/outdoor play backed by clear communication, great nutrition, and safety you can trust.
Math & Cognitive Skills
Language & Literacy
Practical Life & Self Regulation
Social & Emotional
Physical & Wellness
Creative Expression
We encourage children to explore their surroundings through interactive Science & Math Stations.
Within our Discovery Zone, children become immersed in the world of science, technology and mathematics. They investigate, predict, create and evaluate their world through project and inquiry-based learning, as well as sensory exploration.
The complexity of circuits, the fascination of magnetism, the wonder of ecosystems… the world of Science & Math awaits them in our Discovery Zone!
Our Discovery Zone is equipped with multiple centres specifically designed to encourage each child’s creative expression.
In our Fashion & Design Centre, children learn about various fabrics, ribbons and lace as they cut, pin and create fashion masterpieces to display on our mannequins for all to admire.
They can also choose to explore our very popular Stop Motion Animation Technology Centres, where they learn about the amazing world of animation and have the opportunity to create their very own animated movies!
No Discovery Zone would be complete without Building Workshops where children have the opportunity to work independently, or with their friends, to plan and build.
They can choose to build with the famous Kapla wood blocks, or with the Giant Blue Imagination Playground. If they prefer, they can head over to the Materials Workshop, where a variety of materials await their creative building skills.
In the Take Apart Workshop, they can safely explore the inner workings of a variety of mechanical and technical items, such as toasters & computers.
Our expansive Two-Story Indoor Playclimber is sure to delight both young and old alike!
The Playclimber offers an innovative solution to inclement weather conditions, as children have the opportunity to climb, jump, tag and slide on it each day, no matter the weather!
Our littlest kiddos also need Active playtime every day, and sometimes the weather just doesn’t cooperate!
For this reason, all of our centres are equipped with a separate indoor playground, specially designed for our toddlers and infants to play, explore and develop their ever important gross motor skills.
Our playgrounds are constructed with open-ended play in mind!
Our Naturescapes Playground covers an impressive outdoor area, and features imagination-based elements such as outdoor building blocks, log obstacles, jumping rocks, hills, tunnels, trees, gardens, and other natural-materials. We have also taken care to provide a separate age appropriate outdoor Naturescapes Playground for our toddlers and infants.
It’s no secret that kids love to move!
At Active Start, we design our facilities around physical activity, with well stocked indoor gyms. Our Sports Gym is designed to engage children in games, sports and large motor activities. Children learn sportsmanship and team work, as well as have that essential time to run around and get out all of those wiggles!
No freezing cold weather is going to slow down our kids!!
In addition to the Sports Gym, we have a Dance and Fitness Gym, where children receive dance and movement instruction. They also have the opportunity to make up their own games and activities with friends. Our children have a blast twirling ribbons, learning patterns & routines and having just plain fun!
Through our gym, outdoor play and indoor playground time, Active Start kids receive dedicated fitness instruction time each day.
Our fitness instructors track and communicate each child's progress through regular progress reports.
In addition to learning through free play, our childcare centres offer ‘In House’ Pre-School Programs to all the children in our care at no additional cost.
With age appropriate themes, these programs balance individualized Montessori inspired Math and Literacy programming with Reggio Inspired Art, Music and Creativity. We provide child friendly ‘Progress Monitoring Assessments’ three times per year, so that parents and children can celebrate as developmental and academic milestones are mastered. Monthly newsletters keep parents informed as to upcoming events, curriculum and themes.
For the youngest inquisitive minds in our program, we have our very own Nursery program.
Every morning the children explore their monthly themes through interactive songs, physical activities and other sensory experiences. This program fosters social, emotional, physical, creative and intellectual development, including early language and motor skills.
For our toddlers and young three-year old’s every morning of the week, the children explore different age appropriate themes during their scheduled learning time.
This program reinforces foundational skills in early literacy, math, physical and social development, which will lay the foundation to their future learning in our “Active Start PreschoolToddler Program”.
In our Preschool and Pre-Kinder Program, we foster the development of our children through a Montessori Inspired Math and Literacy curriculum, coupled with Reggio Inspired Art, Music and Creativity.
Each morning of the week, Circle and Learning Time is scheduled in the classroom. As a group, children explore monthly themes and later build on theme knowledge as well as academic and artistic skills during Centre Learning Time. Week by week, children explore different topics that fuel learning through cooperation, hands-on and interactive activities.
• Children explore concepts such as:
• Literacy and Language – Phonological awareness, phonics, and vocabulary;
• Mathematics – Foundational math skills and reasoning skills;
• Practical Life Skills- developing practical skills used daily;
• Science – Exploring the natural world;
• Social and Emotional Development – Cooperative learning and communication.
Our learning in this program is tailored to the individual child, to ensure that with encouragement and guidance, each child can progress at their own pace. In the afternoon, children have a scheduled music time during which they learn a variety of songs, finger plays and other Musical skills such as Rhythm, Tempo, Dynamics and Pitch.
For the children in our program that attend Kindergarten, we offer our “Active Start Kinders Program” as a supplement to their learning at school.
Each day the children participate in an interactive program that builds on the skills they are learning at school, such as phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and writing.In addition to the supplementary academic program, the children receive afternoon Music Instruction. During this time, they learn a variety of songs and the continue building on their Rhythm, Tempo, Dynamics, Pitch and other musical skills.
Our ‘Kids in Motion’ School age program is a one-of-a-kind experience. In addition to transporting to the various schools in the vicinity of each centre, at no additional cost, and providing summer time field trip fun, our before and after school program is designed to keep children active and engaged!
Through a rotation schedule, the children have fun with their friends getting to explore all that our amazing facilities have to offer. They enjoy dedicated Creative Arts time, Free Play rooms, the Discovery Zone, Indoor & Outdoor Playgrounds and Indoor Gyms, all while under the watchful guidance of qualified and dedicated caregivers.Our qualified caregivers cultivate responsive relationships with the children in their care, ensuring an environment of trust and promoting healthy child development.
Emotional development lays the foundation for social development and enjoyment of successful relationships.
Learning to constructively deal with emotions is a fundamental challenge for all children. Positive social interactions, in a safe environment with consistent nurturing care, ensure that our children have opportunities for social and emotional growth each day.
Through active engagement with friends and caregivers, they share in meaningful experiences, successfully navigate new challenges and develop meaningful friendships.
At Active Start, we’re all about being ACTIVE!
Enabled by our incredible facility, with its huge outdoor & indoor playgrounds and large indoor gyms, we take physical development and wellness to a whole new level. Children have ample time to run and play each day, as well as participate in organized activities and sports that teach, promote and track those ever important gross motor and team work skills!
Through our Healthy Habits Nutrition Program and accompanying menu, our children’s Physical Development & Wellness take on a leading role within ourToddler program!
Creative expression allows children to communicate feelings and ideas through art, music, drama, literacy, free play and even math and science.
Expressions of creativity can be found everywhere. For example, when children create artwork or design a block city, every step involves making decisions and solving problems. As those choices are made, they experience a sense of satisfaction with their creations. Our role as caregivers, is to provide children with materials and opportunities to create and celebrate success with our little artists.
Our Active Start program provides opportunities for integrated Math & Cognitive Skills development throughout each child’s day.
Free Play stations and our ‘In House’ Pre-School Programs, engage children and encourage the development of foundational cognitive learning skills such as memory, critical thinking, problem solving and processing. Children learn to evaluate, analyze, make comparisons and understand cause and effect. As they grow, they learn about patterns, quantities, the abstract skill of matching numerals to quantities and eventually basic arithmetic.
Our Active Start program provides opportunities for integrated Math & Cognitive Skills development throughout each child’s day.
Free Play stations and our ‘In House’ Pre-School Programs, engage children and encourage the development of foundational cognitive learning skills such as memory, critical thinking, problem solving and processing. Children learn to evaluate, analyze, make comparisons and understand cause and effect. As they grow, they learn about patterns, quantities, the abstract skill of matching numerals to quantities and eventually basic arithmetic.
As children receive nurturing support from home and from childcare, they will develop practical life and self-regulation skills.
By establishing daily routines, and through positive & reliable relationships, caregivers offer the children opportunities to develop mental flexibility, a working memory and self-control. Everything from potty training for the Toddlers, to teaching 3 & 4 years olds how to dress independently, is part of our daily routine. Activities promoting task initiation, followed by planning & organizing of tasks and clean up duty, are encouraged and monitored to ensure positive growth, responsibility and eventual independence.
Creative expression through art and music enhances learning and is fun for children.
We provide a variety of art mediums and materials to enable them to make fabulous ‘creations’ which are celebrated and displayed. During imaginative play time, children can dance to their own beat using instruments in the music centre or sing along with their favourite songs. Dramatic play is also an integral part of a child’s development, allowing them to use their vivid imaginations and natural creativity. They have adventures role-playing with friends, using prop boxes and building materials in a variety of dramatic play centres.
A healthy environment for discovery through play is provided in multiple discovery stations found within each homeroom.
Children can engage in fine motor or manipulative activities, such as puzzles and Lego, which are crucial for the development of early math skills. They may choose activities such as water play or sensory tables full of sand, goo or other materials. The children also develop various practical life skills such as pouring and measuring, latching, lacing, zipping and buttoning. By providing a variety of natural things, such as pine cones, and specifically prepared items, such as pegboards, caregivers challenge children to investigate, interact and nurture their inherent curiosity.
Fostering a love of learning through literacy is a key component of our Active Start Program.
Children can choose from a variety of age appropriate books and cozy up with friends in the Literacy Centre for some shared reading. The Listening Library is a great place to follow along with their favourite stories. Our literacy centres also contain games and activities designed to encourage social interaction, as early literacy skills are developed. Caregivers encourage verbal expression by listening and responding positively to the children in their care.
Delicious and Nutritious! Our Healthy Habits Nutrition Program is one of the ways we’re helping Active Minds & Bodies grow.
Our Nutritionist- Certified breakfasts, lunches & snacks have also undergone the most rigorous taste testing of the food critic industry... our children! That’s right, we ensure that the children in our care have tested and taste approved each and every meal before it is made part of our menu!
Each meal and snack is tasty, nut-free, made with fresh ingredients and nutritionally balanced. We prepare our food on site, with the vast majority of it made ‘from scratch’ by qualified cooks. Our modern kitchens are spacious and well equipped with ample storage in the kitchen, as well as a separate storage room.
After an active morning, and as it gets closer to lunchtime, the aroma of freshly cooked, yummy food fills the air! It’s no surprise that our kids are ready and excited to sit down with their caregivers and enjoy a delicious and nutritious meal!
As an allergy-sensitive and nut-free facility, we work with parents to ensure their children’s dietary needs are met.
Our menu is carefully planned, as we select quality ingredients and carefully prepare foods that are always nut free. Caregivers are made aware of any allergies a child may have, and allergy lists are posted in each room and recorded in room binders. All our staff are educated on recognizing symptoms of allergic reactions, and receive annual training on the administration of epinephrine.
Lead caregivers integrate Healthy Habits lessons into their programs, so that the children can understand why their friends may not be able to have certain foods due to allergy related limitations.
Medication and Health policies are designed to ensure that children properly receive prescribed medication from qualified caregivers. Medication administration is carefully documented and available for parents to review.
Each room is equipped with its own refrigerator, to ensure that milk and other perishables are kept fresh by limiting the amount of time that they are out of refrigeration.More information on this topic can be found in our Parent Handbook.
At Active Start, we practice a thorough and comprehensive culture of Safety and Security.
We ensure that our facility, equipment and toys are safe and clean. As with all licensed daycare facilities, we’re approved and monitored by Licensing, Fire, Health and Safety Inspectors. We ensure that furniture, equipment and toys are safe and well maintained. Even our outdoor playclimber is custom designed and built to ensure safety.We follow a strict regime of cleaning toys, equipment, and our facility.
Our children are also taught to practice good hygiene, and staff are dedicated to ensuring the children’s safety, security and health. Every member of our staff is qualified in Early Childhood Education and trained in accordance with Active Start policies and procedures. Each staff member is required to have a background check, current criminal record check and First Aid Certification. We also have a comprehensive volunteer screening policy.
Incident, accident and illness reports are carefully documented and sensitively administered. Summer fun means taking time to apply sunscreen every day and insect repellent as required.
Our security systems require either codes or fobs to be used by parents in order to enter our centres. Our child pick up policy is strictly enforced to ensure that only those who have clearance, are allowed to pick up children from our care.
More on this topic can be found in our Parent Handbook.
Effective communication between parents and teachers is essential to the well being of every child.
As such, we ensure all our avenues of communication remain clear, simple and consistent. Daily communication at pick up and drop off times, and checking the Parent Board, are quick and easy ways for parents to stay informed. For our littlest ones, parents also receive a personalized journal entry each day!
Each month, parents receive a detailed centre and home room newsletter to keep them informed of all the upcoming themes, events and other important information.
Everything from simple reminders to our Father’s Day Root Beer, Crafts Night, special guests, monthly themes, preschool topics and more are organized and presented for convenient review in our monthly newsletters.
Tracking the progress of a child is essential to ensuring they are meeting all those important developmental milestones and academic progression.
We take this responsibility seriously and so each October, February and June, our teachers send home individual Progress Reports to update all our daycare parents on how their child is doing developmentally and academically in our Active Start Program.
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